14 DAY TRIAL // The Space Shuttle Discovery is on its way to the International Space Station after lifting off at 2:37:55 p.m. EDT Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. It was the third launch attempt in four days; the others were scrubbed due to weather concerns. This was the first space shuttle launch on Independence Day.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be safely back in space again, and are looking forward to evaluating shuttle system ascent performance as soon as possible," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.
Discovery's mission, STS-121, is the second in NASA's Return to Flight sequence. For 12 days, Discovery's crew members, Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly, and mission specialists Mike Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, and Piers Sellers, will continue testing new safety equipment and procedures that were introduced on the first Return to Flight mission, STS-114, last summer. They also will deliver equipment, supplies, experiments and spare parts to the station.
"Discovery, straight as an arrow, speeding towards a date with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday," said NASA launch commentator Bruce Buckingham.
NASA employees at the Kennedy Space Center's launch control center applauded and hugged each other as ground control announced the shuttle had reached orbit about nine minutes after blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center.
The STS-121 mission will also bring a new crew member to the orbiting laboratory, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany, who will join the ISS's two other crew members for a long-term stay, and will undertake two space walks. The station has had two-person crews since May 2003.
Discovery is scheduled to dock with the station Thursday. Landing is scheduled for July 17 at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility.
Photo credit: NASA/Sandy Joseph, Robert Murray